Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright during a game against the Montreal Canadiens, in Seattle, on Dec. 6.Stephen Brashear/The Associated Press
Canada’s junior hockey team is getting another big boost from the NHL.
Hockey Canada says the Seattle Kraken have loaned forward Shane Wright to the team before the start of its selection camp in Moncton, N.B., for the upcoming world junior championship.
The Kraken picked Wright fourth overall in the 2022 NHL draft.
He recently returned from a conditioning stint in the American Hockey League and scored his first NHL goal on Tuesday against visiting Montreal.
Wright was on Canada’s team at the 2022 world junior championship that was postponed due to an outbreak of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. He did not play in August’s rescheduled tournament in Edmonton.
He helped Canada win gold at the 2021 under-18 championship and finished the tournament tied with teammate Connor Bedard for second in scoring with 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in seven games.
Wright’s addition to Canada’s selection camp roster comes a day after the Los Angeles Kings loaned defenceman Brandt Clarke, another key member of the 2021 U18 squad, to the junior team.
Canada kicks off its selection camp for the 2023 world junior team Friday in Moncton.
The world junior championship starts Dec. 26 in Moncton and Halifax.